Bedframe center support



, Aug. 25, 1959 H. J. SANDS 2,900,647

BEDFRAME CENTER SUPPORT Filed Jan. 11, 1957 FIG. 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. HILLARD J. SANDS "aw ully ATTYS.

BEDFRAME CENTER SUPPORT Hillard J. Sands, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Harvard Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,594

2 Claims. (Cl. -202) This invention particularly relates to bedframes, and to center supports therefor, especially to bedframes made from metal rails or angles and usually of the so-called Hollywood style.

Heretofore there have been many different styles of Hollywood bedframes produced and these bedframes normally are made from metal angles or rails. There are quite a few different manufacturers of these metal bedframes and naturally a great deal of competition exists in the industry. Hence, producers of even quality merchandise must be extremely careful of every detail of their costs in these bedframes and it is the details of construction of the bedframes that set apart the strong, sturdy quality products from the relatively weak, inferior products.

In many instances these bedframes require special center supports provided therein, especially when the bed is used by a heavy person or when the bedframe is of any 1 appreciable width greater than the minimum single bedframe width. Thus the present invention particularly relates to the novel center support unit for a bedframe and wherein such center support unit is of the type that can be assembled at the point of use of the bedframe by a relatively unskilled person, such as the home owner who has purchased the bedframe in a knocked-down or disassembled condition. For convenience in shipping these oedframes, they are all shipped in a semi-assembled condition. Inasmuch as the business is transacted in large volume, it is very important that a compact unit be made from the bedframe as shipped from the manufacturer to the ultimate consumer. It likewise is very important that the main load carrying members of the frame be permanently and fixedly secured together at the factory, insofar as possible, and still permit the bedframe to be shipped compactly in a small shipping container.

It thus is the general object of the present invention to provide a bedframe characterized by the compact, but sturdy, center support unit provided therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center support unit for a Hollywood style bedframe wherein support legs can be secured to the center support unit by the same rivet means used for securing a pair of center rails in back-to-back relation.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a center support unit for a bedframe of the class described wherein the support legs are secured to such center support unit and spaced a short distance from the ends of the center support rails to aid in providing effective reenforcing and support action therefor.

Another object of the invention -is to make a center support unit for a bedframe from a minimum number of parts and to provide a center support unit that can be readily assembled together with the other components of the bedframe at the point of use thereof to provide a solid bedframe with good load support characteristics.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

2300347 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 In order to understand the invention more completely, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein one currently preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bedframe using a center support of the invention therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2. of Fig. 1 of the center support of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings and described in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison between such similar parts.

The present invention relates to a bedframe having a center support unit therein comprising a pair of center rails each of right angular shape in section and positioned with dependent legs thereof in back-to-back relation and with horizontally aligned top support legs, a support leg for each end of the associated center rails, means permanently securing the support legs to opposite end portions of the center rails spaced from the ends thereof, a cross rail member abutted against each of the ends of the center rails and extending therefrom in both directions normally to the center rails, and means securing the cross rail members to the center rails.

Attention now is particularly directed to the details of the structure shown in the drawings, and a Hollywood bedframe is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This bedframe 1 includes a pair of side rails, or runners 2 and 3, while top cross rail sections 4 extend from each of the side rails 2 and 3 and bottom cross rail sections 5 extend from the bottom portions of each of the side rails 2 and 3.

All of the side rails 2 and 3 and cross rail sections 4 and 5 normally are made from suitable angle iron and the cross rail sections 4 and 5 usually are pivotally secured to the side rails, but extend normally therefrom when operatively positioned. Usually each of the cross rail sections would be individually riveted to the side rails by one rivet 6 for pivotal action with relation thereto so that the bedframe can be shipped with the cross rail sections compactly folded in on the side rails. Any other desired means such as bolts and reenforcing rail sections may be used to lock the cross rail sections to extend normally from the side rails.

Fig. 1 of the drawings best shows that support legs 7 are secured to each of the cross rail sections 4 and 5 and extend downwardly therefrom for supporting the bedframe 1 and any mattress or other structure carried thereby.

As an important feature of the invention, the center support unit, indicated as a whole by the numeral 8, is provided for the bedframe 1 to reenforce load applied to the center portion thereof. This center support unit 8 includes a pair of center rails 9 and 10, which rails are of right angular shape in section and are positioned With dependent legs 9a and 10a thereof, respectively, positioned in back-to-back relation and with the horizontally aligned top support legs of the center rails extending in opposite directions from the center dependent legs of the rail unit formed from the two center rails. of support legs, or members 11 are secured to the center rails 9 and 10 adjacent each end thereof. In this instance, the support legs, or members 11 are shown as having at least substantially closed tubular lower ends, indicated at 12, which ends are adapted to receive caster or glide stems so as to position suitable casters 13 orthe like in the center support unit. It should be noted that these support legs, or members 11 have anchor wings 14 and 15 extending oppositely therefrom and presenting flat inner surfaces or faces for lying flush against either one A pairof the dependent legs 9a or 10a of the center rails, as desired. The upper surfaces of the support legs are straight and may engage the lower edges of the top support legs of the center rails 9 and 10, or be spaced therefrom, as shown. The support legs also preferably include a center rib for reenforcing the legs and providing maximum strength therein so that the center vertical support axis of the legs is positioned closely to the center line of the center support unit 8.

In all events, a center support unit with study constructron and effective load carrying action is provided by permanently securing the support legs 11 to the dependent legs 9a and 10a of the center rails 9 and 10 preferably by the use of pairs of rivets 16 that engage the anchor wings 14 and 15 of each of the support legs and at the same time extend through the dependent legs 9a and 10a of the center rails 9 and 10 to form a unit therefrom by a simple, inexpensive construction.

It should be noted that the anchor wing 15, as shown in the drawings, has the same shape as the lower corner of the dependent legs 9a and 10a of the center rails 9 and 10. The lower end corners of the dependent legs 9a and 10a of the center rails are sheared, or otherwise out therefrom prior to making the center support unit 8. Fig. 2 shows that the anchor wings of the support legs and the lower end corners of the dependent legs 9a and 10a of the center rails are shorter in height than the dependent legs of cross rail members 17 used in the bedframe, as hereinafter described. This construction prevents any end of the center portion of the center support unit from sticking out and scratching or cutting a persons foot, or tearing a persons shoe or clothing when passing by the bed'frame 1 of the invention.

As another important element of the center support unit 8 to complete it and make a satisfactory, but sturdy, inexpensive load carrying unit therefrom, a pair of cross rail members 17 are secured to and form part of the center support unit 1 at each end thereof. The cross rail members 17 have horizontal top legs 17a that overlie and are supported by the horizontal support legs of the center rails 9 and 10 and with the dependent legs of such center rails engaging the dependent leg of the cross rail member 17. The cross rail member 17 extends normally from the center rails 9 and 10 in both directions from both ends thereof and both legs of such cross rail members engage legs of the center rails for support thereby. The support for the cross rail members reenforces them against any inwardly directed turning movements set up therein by loads on the bedframe.

The bedframe 1 is completed by use of suitable clamp means 18 that secure telescoped portions of the cross rail sections 4 and 5 to the cross rail members 17 at each end of the bedframe so that an adjustable, but set width can be provided therein, dependent upon the desired amount of telescopic engagement, or overlap provided in such cross rail means.

Any suitable means, such as bolts 19, can be used for removably securing the center support member 17 to the end portions of the center rails 9 and 10 as aligned holes or apertures would be provided in each of the center rails 9 and 10 at each end thereof in the horizontal support legs thereof. These apertures would align with corresponding apertures provided in spaced portions of the cross rail member 17. Thus the frame 1 can be disassembled and be shipped in a compact condition with the cross rail member 17 being readily secured to the center support unit 8 and with the center support unit 8 being likewise easily secured to the remaining components of the bedframe 1. By use of the same rivet means for securing the center rails and support legs therefor together, construction of the center support unit is facilitated and simplified. Furthermore, the spacing of such support legs 11 slightly from the ends of thecenter supcation of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A center support for a bedframe which center support comprises a pair of center rails each of right angular shape in section and positioned with dependent legs thereof in back-to-back relation and with horizontally aligned top support legs, a support member for each end of the associated center rails, said support members having anchor wings extending oppositely from upper portions thereof and presenting flat inner surfaces lying flush against said center rail dependent legs, a pair of rivet means permanently securing each of said support members to opposite end portions of said center rails and securing said center rails together, a cross rail member abutted against each end of said center rails and extending therefrom in both directions normally to said center rails, said cross rail members each having a top leg overlying and supported by said top support legs of said center rails and having dependent legs abutting against the ends of the dependent legs of said center rails and against the end of one anchor wing of said support member to be positioned thereby, the ends of the dependent legs of said center rails and of said anchor wing for abutting the dependent legs of said cross rail members being shorter in height than such legs of said cross rail members to avoid the provision of sharp exposed leg ends at the ends of said center rails, and means for securing said cross rail members to said center rails in the positions indicated.

2. A center support for a bedframe which center support comprises a pair of center rails each of right angular shape in section and positioned with dependent legs thereof in back-to-back relation and with horizontally aligned top support legs, a support member for each end of the associated center rails, said support members having anchor wings extending oppositely from upper portions of such members and presenting flat inner surfaces for lying flush against said center rail dependent legs, means engaging said spaced anchor wings for permanently securing each of said support members to opposite end portions of said center rails, one end of one of said anchor wings being aligned with the ends of said center rails at each end thereof, cross rail sections abutted against the ends of said center rails and against the end of one of said anchor wings at each end of said center rails, all portions of said support members extending downwardly from said cross rail sections being spaced axially inwardly from said cross rail sections, and means securing said cross rail sections to said center rails to extend normally therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,051 Jackson Aug. 19, 1952 2,644,959 Blanke et a1. July 14, 1953 2,644,960 Blanke et al July 14, 1953 2,745,117 Sands May 15, 1956 2,772,424 Roche et a1. Dec. 4, 1956 

